9.The
mechanism for precautionary measures is established in Article 25 of the
Rules of Procedure of the IACHR. This provision states that in serious
and urgent cases, and wherever necessary according to the information
available, the Commission may, on its own initiative or at the request
of a party, request that the State concerned adopt precautionary
measures to prevent irreparable harm to persons. If the Commission is
not in session, the President, or, in his absence, one of the
Vice-Presidents, shall consult with the other members, through the
Executive Secretariat, on the application of this provision. If it is
not possible to consult within a reasonable period of time under the
circumstances, the President shall take the decision on behalf of the
Commission and shall so inform its members. In accordance with the
procedure established, the IACHR may request information from the
interested parties related to any aspect of the adoption and observance
of the precautionary measures. The granting of such measures and their
adoption by the State shall not constitute on the part of the IACHR a
prejudgment in the eventuality of a decesion on the merits of the case.

10.A
summary can be found below of the precautionary measures granted or
issued during 2006 in relation to member states. It should be
highlighted that the number of precautionary measures granted does not
reflect the number of persons protected by their adoption, because as
can be seen below, many of the precautionary measures issued by the
IACHR protect more than one person and, in certain cases, groups of
persons such as indigenous peoples or communities.

BOLIVIA

The
Union of Guarayo Native Peoples (COPNAG)

11.On
November 27, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures on behalf of
Élida Urapuca Priori, Felipe Male Uraeza, Ángel Yubanore Zerobei,
Modesto Checuire, Silvia Aracae, Miguel Manguari, Alfredo Añez, Edil
Sánchez, and Cataline Castro, in their capacity as directors of the
Union of Guarayo Native Peoples (COPNAG); Juan Pablo Encinas, Miriam
Guzmán, Wilson Añez, Osbin Abiyna, and Francisco Uraruin, in their
capacity as members of the Disciplinary Tribunal of COPNAG; Ovidio
Yubanore Zerobé, Eladio Uraeza Abacay, Ambrosio Yaboo, Hildeberto
Urapovi, Gastón Estrada, Severiano Abancay, in their capacity as leaders
of the Community Unions in Urubichá, Yotaú, Cururú, Salvatierra, Momené,
and Yaguarú, respectively; Venancio Morobanchi, in his capacity as
member of the Urubichá Municipal Council; Benigno Urapuca Priori, in his
capacity as ex-leader of COPNAG; and Alicia Tejada Soruco, in her
capacity as Technical Consultant. The Commission’s decision was based on
the request for precautionary measures in which it was alleged that
these persons are at risk as a consequence of the conflict between
COPNAG’s leaders, members of the Disciplinary Tribunal and community
leaders, and the Guarayo Indigenous People, and former leaders of COPNAG,
which has given rise to threats, physical aggression, and enforced
displacements. The Commission requested that the State, inter alia,
adopt the measures necessary to ensure the safe return of community
leaders to their localities; ensure the presence of police at COPNAG
headquarters and the Urubichá Community headquarters during the
assemblies and activities in which the beneficiaries are taking part;
and report on action taken to investigate judicially the events that
gave rise to the precautionary measures.

BRAZIL

Center for the Defense of Children´s and Adolescents´s Rights of the
Federal District

12.On
February 9, 2006, IACHR granted precautionary measures on behalf of the
adolescents detained in CAJE (Center for Specialist Juvenile Care) in
the city of Brasilia. The available information indicate that since 1992
there have been a series of deaths and physical injuries caused by the
conditions in which the adolescents are detained in CAJE. Specifically,
it is alleged that between 1997 and 1998 nine adolescents have died,
some of them after having been tortured; that between 2003 and 2004,
five more died, and towards the end of 2005, the lifeless body of Iván
Marques (16) was found in his cell with signs of torture and mutilation.
The Commission requested that the State, inter alia, adopt the
measures necessary to resolve overcrowding in the center in line with
minimum international standards; ensure the safety of detainees by
providing security staff who are trained to deal with adolescent
detainees; eliminate the use of indefinite detention without access to
the yard or the prohibition of family visits as disciplinary measures;
separate detainees according to the gravity of the crimes of which they
are accused, their age, and in line with each one’s disciplinary record,
making allowances for the conflicts which may exist between detainees
themselves; publish a list of the causes of the detention of each of the
adolescents in the Center; and ensure access to appropriate and
effective judicial remedies, in order to manage the conditions of
detention, and ensure the legality of the causes that justify their
detention.

Maria Aparecida Denadai

13.On
February 3, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures to protect
the life and physical integrity of Maria Aparecida Denadai and her two
daughters Bruna Denadai and Deise Denadai. The information states that
Maria Aparecida de Denadai witnessed the murder of her brother Marcelo
Denadai, who was the beneficiary of precautionary measures granted by
the IACHR on June 24, 1999. It is considered that the life and physical
integrity of Maria Aparecida Denadai is at risk because other witnesses
in the case of the murder of Marcelo Denadai before the Court of Justice
of Espiritu Santo have been murdered. Maria Aparecida Denadai is a
participant in other legal cases against organized crime in Espiritu
Santo and has been the victim of death threats, acts of harassment, and
attempts on her life. The Commission requested that the State, inter
alia, adopt the security measures needed to protect the life and
physical integrity of the beneficiary. The Commission is monitoring the
situation of the beneficiary.

Persons detained in the 76th Police Precinct (76
DP)

14.On
October 19, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of
approximately 400 people detained in the 76th Police Precinct
in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, because of the unsanitary conditions and the
inhumane, degrading and cruel treatment to which they were exposed. The
information available states that the approximately 400 beneficiaries
are held in cells designed for 140 persons, with an average of 14
detainees in cells that measure 2m x 3m, with no activities and the
right to use a bathroom only once every 24 hours. Amongst those detained
in the above-mentioned police precinct are some that were caught in
flagrante delicto, some who are in preventive custody, some who have
been sentenced, members of rival criminal gangs, and no criteria are
applied in order to separate the prisoners according to categories that
might ensure the appropriate protection of their lives and physical
integrity. Furthermore, there are no beds and persons must sleep on the
floor or alternatively in hammocks because of the overcrowding. It is
alleged that hygiene conditions are unreliable, as well there is a high
risk of fire; and lack of medical care. Given the situation of risk to
the beneficiaries, the IACHR requested that the Brazilian State adopt
the measures necessary to protect the lives and physical integrity of
the persons detained in the 76th Precinct, including the
transfer of those sentenced to penitentiaries; a substantial reduction
in numbers; medical care for all beneficiaries; and report on action
taken to investigate the events that gave rise to the precautionary
measures. The Commission is monitoring the beneficiaries’ situation.

COLOMBIA

The
Colombian Association of Democratic Lawyers

15.On
February 3, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of
Ernesto Moreno Gordillo, María Restrepo Vélez, Miguel Ángel González
Reyes, and Alberto Acevedo, all members of the Colombian Association of
Democratic Lawyers, an organization which, inter alia, is
dedicated to the legal defense of community and civic leaders, mayors,
ex mayors, councilors, leftwing members of parliament, trades people,
all of whom have been affected by so-called “mass arrests.” The
information states that after denouncing the violations of the right to
due process of its defenders, the members of the association were
followed, harassed, and became the objects of death threats, and on
November 17, 2005, there was an attack against the lawyer Moreno
Gordillo in which he was shot five times. The Commission requested that
the State, inter alia, adopted the necessary measures to protect
the life and physical integrity of the beneficiaries and report on
actions taken to judicially investigate the events that gave rise to the
precautionary measures. The Commission is monitoring the beneficiaries’
situation.

Eduardo César Ariza Ulloque et al.

16.On
March 23, 2006, the IACHR requested precautionary measures in favor of
Eduardo César Ariza Ulloque, leader of a community of nine families
displaced by the river diversion, Medellín city. The situation falls
within the framework of precautionary measures adopted in October 2004
on behalf of a number of families left homeless and displaced in the
city of Medellín, who were forcibly evicted in spite of the existence of
a judicial order that defined the specific, non-violent circumstances in
which they could be moved from the so-called “Bello or river diversion.”
The State agreed to provide transitional facilities for the affected
families and to include them in a housing plan, which allowed the IACHR
to lift the precautionary measures. It appears that nine of the families
were excluded from the housing plan, because they had been displaced
from within the city, and they therefore returned to the Bello or river
diversion. The Commission’s decision is now based on information that
indicates that the beneficiary has been the victim of a firearm attack
and that the nine families he represents have been the objects of
threats from groups of paramilitaries operating in the area. The
Commission requested that the State, inter alia, adopt the
necessary measures to protect the life and physical integrity of Eduardo
César Ariza Ulloque, his wife Sor Elena Arboleda Metre, and their two
children, Anderson Ariza Arboleda, and Edgar Ariza Arboleda, and report
on action taken to judicially investigate the events that gave rise to
the precautionary measures. The Commission has also requested that the
State provide information on the situation of the nine affected families
who were beneficiaries of precautionary measure 784-04 64 Children
and 50 Adults in the Bello Diversion. The Commission is continuing
to monitor the beneficiaries’ situation.

Iván
Cepeda Castro, Claudia Girón, and Emberth Barrios Guzmán

17.On
June 26, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of Iván
Cepeda Castro, Claudia Girón, and Emberth Barrios Guzmán, all members of
the Manuel Cepeda Vargas Foundation, an organization which, amongst
other activities, represents victims of human rights violations before
the Inter-American Commission. The Commission’s decision was based on
information that indicates that the beneficiaries have received threats
and been followed increasing the risk to their lives given the context
of comments and other violent acts against members of the Patriotic
Union, and that Mr. Emberth Barrios Guzmán, who is part of the
protection plan granted, has been the victim of an attack. The
Commission requested that the State, inter alia, adopt the
necessary measures to protect the life and physical integrity of Iván
Cepeda Castro, Claudia Girón, and Emberth Barrios Guzmán, and in view of
the threats against members of the group, strengthen the protective
measures already in force; and report on the action it has taken to
investigate the alleged involvement of state employees in the harassment
inflicted on the beneficiaries, as well as the measures adopted to put
an end to the threats against his life. The Commission is monitoring the
beneficiaries’ situation.

Marcos Perales Mendoza et al.

18.On
August 1, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of the
journalist Marcos Perales Mendoza and his family, in the Republic of
Colombia. The information states that the journalist and his family have
been the targets of death threats since May, 2005. It is alleged that
the threats, which were made by email, began following the publication
of articles about allegedly corrupt acts in the office of the mayor of
the city of Barrancabermeja, and the participation of members of
paramilitary groups in the administration of that municipality. The
articles were published in the Portada daily newspaper, which
circulates in the Department of Santander and belongs to Mr. Marcos
Perales Mendoza. Given the threats, Mr. Marcos Perales and his family
were obliged to leave the city of Barrancabermeja, in spite of which the
threats continued. The Commission requested that the Government of
Colombia adopt the measures necessary to protect the life and physical
integrity of the beneficiaries and report on the action it has taken to
investigate legally the events which gave rise to the precautionary
measures. The Commission is monitoring the beneficiaries’ situation.

Four families of COTRAGROBLAN

19.On
September 1, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of
the Mausa, Rodríguez, Bravo Pertuz, and Tordecilla Cordero families, all
members of the Blanquicet Agricultural Workers’ Cooperative (COTRAGROBLAN)
in the municipality of Turbo. The available information indicates that
in 1998, 12 families belonging to the COTROGROBLAN cooperative were
violently ejected from the “La Esperanza” farm in the municipality of
Turbo. Four of these families, who are still living in the area, were
subjected to intimidation by armed civilians who wanted to legalize
their ownership of the property belonging to the evicted families. The
four families fear reprisals for not obeying the paramilitaries who took
possession of the farm and for taking judicial action to recover their
property. The IACHR requested that the Government of Colombia adopt the
measures necessary to protect the life and physical integrity of the
beneficiaries and report on the action it has taken to judicially
investigate the events that gave rise to the precautionary measures. The
Commission is monitoring the beneficiaries’ situation.

Luis Alberto Diaz and family

20.On
September 6, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of
Luís Alberto Díaz and his family in the Republic of Colombia. The
information indicates that Mr. Díaz and members of his family were
subjected to threats and harassment, including attacks on their liberty.
By note of May 31, 2006, repeated on June 16, 2006, the IACHR requested
information from the Government of Colombia regarding the situation of
Mr. Díaz and his family, and the steps taken to identify those
responsible for the acts of harassment alleged, as well as the
investigations pending before the office of the Attorney General, in
order to evaluate the need to activate the precautionary measures
mechanism. On June 29, 2006, the Government requested more time to
provide the information requested, and finally sent the information by
note DDH.OAS 33904/1644 on July 12, 2006, received at the IACHR on July
18, 2006. This note merely indicates that an investigation is underway
in the 45th deputy district attorney’s office (Fiscalía 45
Delegada), without showing how this relates to the question of the
safety of Mr. Luís Alberto Díaz and his family. At the same time, the
IACHR received information indicating that the death threats against Mr.
Díaz continued, therefore proceeded to grant the precautionary measures
and to request that the Government of Colombia adopt the measures
necessary to protect the life and physical integrity of the beneficiary
and his family, and to report on the action taken to judicially
investigate the events that gave rise to the precautionary measures. The
Commission continues monitoring the beneficiaries’ situation.

Marta Cecilia Díaz Suárez and María Mancilla Gamboa-ASTEMP

21.On
September 22, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor or
Marta Cecilia Díaz Suárez and María Paz Mancilla Gamboa, President and
Vice President, respectively, of ASTDEMP (the Santander Association of
Public Servants) in the Republic of Colombia. The information available
indicates that Mrs. Marta Cecilia Díaz Suárez and Mrs. María Paz
Mancilla were both subjected to threats, harassment, abduction, and
serious physical assault because of their union work on behalf of state
workers. In view of this, the Commission requested that the Government
of Colombia adopt the measures necessary to protect the life and
physical integrity of the beneficiaries and report on the action taken
to investigate judicially the events that gave rise to the precautionary
measures. The Commission is monitoring the beneficiaries’ situation.

Members of the National Movement for Victims, Sucre Chapter

22.On
November 8, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of
Juan David Díaz Chamorro, Ana Verónica Montaño Chamorro, Malena Mariet
Martínez, Ingrid Vergara Chavez, Arnol Gómez Anaya, Adil Meléndez
Márquez, Carmelo Agames Berrío, Luis Bautista Gómez Gómez, Ever José
Mosquera Salazar, Domingo Banquets Wilches, Omar Enrique Julio Blanco,
Jackeline Moguea Berrío, Roberto Serpa, Pedro Nel Mejía Uparela,
Franklin Torres, Adolfo Berbel, and Amauri Bidual, members of the
National Movement for Victims of State Crimes, who denounced human
rights violations committed in the regions of Sucre, Bolívar, Sur de
Bolívar, and Montes de María, in the Republic of Colombia. The
information available states that the human rights defenders were
subjected to threats and harassment that put at risk their lives and
physical integrity. In view of the background to the matter, the
Commission requested that the Government of Colombia adopt the necessary
measures to protect the life and physical integrity of the beneficiaries
and the continuity of their work and report on action taken to
judicially investigate the events that gave rise to the precautionary
measures. The Commission is monitoring the beneficiaries’ situation.

María Bertha Echeverri and family

23.On
November 10, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of
Mrs. María Bertha Echeverri, her sons César Augusto Pardo Echeverri,
Claudia Patricia Pardo Echeverri, Héctor Hernán Pardo Echeverri,
Santiago Pardo Echeverri, and her grandchildren Yojan Alejandro Pardo
Echeverri, Brayan Camilo Pardo Sánchez, and Salomé Álvarez Pardo, in the
Republic of Colombia. The information available states that María Bertha
Echeverri and her family are in danger following the murder of her son
Juan Guillermo Pardo Echeverri, a young man who was recruited by illegal
groups in the 13th Commune of Medellín under threat of harm
to his family. Mrs. María Bertha Echeverri has taken systematic action
to denounce the death of her son in order that the events are judicially
investigated which has aggravated the safety of her own situation. In
view of this, the Commission requested that the Government of Colombia
adopt the measures necessary to protect the life and physical integrity
of the beneficiaries and report on the action taken to investigate
judicially the events that gave rise to the precautionary measures. The
Commission is monitoring the beneficiaries’ situation.

CUBA

Jorge Luis García Pérez-Antúnez

24.On
November 22, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of
Jorge Luís García Pérez-Antúnez, who is currently detained by the State
of Cuba. The information available states that Mr. García Pérez-Antúnez
has been warned by the authorities that he will not leave alive the
prison where he is currently serving a 17 year sentence. Mr. García
Pérez-Antúnez is close to completing his sentence and being set free. In
view of this, the Commission has requested that the Government of Cuba
adopt the measures necessary to protect the life and physical integrity
of the beneficiary and report on the action taken to investigate
judicially the events that gave rise to the precautionary measures.

ECUADOR

The
Tagaeri and Taromenami Indigenous Peoples

25.On
May 10, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of the
Tagaeri and Taromenami indigenous peoples who inhabit the Ecuadorian
Amazon jungle in the area bordering Peru and who are currently
voluntarily isolated or “hidden”. The information available states that
members of the Taromenami tribe were murdered on April 26, 2006 in the
Cononaco (River Chiripuno) area during reprisals linked to illegal tree
felling in the Yasuní Park and encroachments onto indigenous lands. In
view of this, the IACHR requested that the Ecuadorian State adopt the
measures necessary to protect the territory inhabited by the
beneficiaries from third parties.

EL SALVADOR

Damián
Miguel Pedro Taylor Colosal

26.On
March 22, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of the
US citizen, Damián Miguel Pedro Taylor Colosal who is currently detained
in the APANTEOS penitentiary in Santa Ana, El Salvador. The information
available indicates that Mr. Taylor Colosal was a witness to violent
events that took place in the “La Esperanza” prison before he was
transferred to APANTEOS. It is alleged that he has been the victim of
physical aggression inside the prison without the matter being
investigated. On February 7, 2006, the IACHR requested information from
the State regarding Mr. Taylor Colosal’s situation in order to evaluate
the need to activate the precautionary measures mechanism. In view of
the response provided by the State on February 27, 2007 regarding the
absence of measures designed to guarantee the physical integrity of the
prisoner, the IACHR decided to adopt precautionary measures and request
that the State adopt the measures necessary to protect his life and
physical integrity, judicially investigate the events, and bring to
justice those responsible. The Commission is monitoring the
beneficiary’s situation.

Adrián Meléndez Quijano et al.

27.On
October 10, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of
the lawyer and army major Adrián Meléndez Quijano, his brother Eurípedes
Meléndez Quijano, and their respective families in El Salvador. The
information available states that Major Meléndez Quijano and his family
have been harassed on several occasions, and since June 2006 have been
subjected to observation, in particular at home and when attending the
Human Rights Institute of the Central American University “Jose Simeón
Cañas,” and have received telephone death threats. It is stated that his
mother received telephone threats which caused her to leave the country
and in November 2005, his brother, Eurípedes Meléndez was the victim of
a knife attack. In view of this, the Commission requested that the
Government of El Salvador should adopt the measures necessary to protect
the life and physical integrity of the beneficiary and report on action
taken to investigate judicially the events that gave rise to the
precautionary measures.

GUATEMALA

Dolores
Karla Morales Jiménez, Mario Morales Jiménez and family

28.On
January 10, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of
Dolores Karla Morales Jiménez, Mario Morales Jiménez, and their families
in Guatemala. The information available states that these persons were
the object of death threats presumably as a consequence of the rol they
had played in the murder investigation ocurred in December 2005, of the
husband of Dolores Karla Morales Jiménez and brother-in-law of Mr. Mario
Morales Jiménez, and of his four bodyguards. It is alleged that the
murder possibly involved the participation of state agents. In view of
these
antecedents,
the Commission requested that the Government of Guatemala adopt the
measures necessary to protect the life and physical integrity of the
beneficiaries and report on action taken to investigate judicially the
events that gave rise to the precautionary measures. The Commission is
monitoring the beneficiaries’ situation.

Kevin Josué Alegría Robles and members of OASIS

29.On
February 3, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of
Kevin Josué Alegría Robles, Jorge Luis López Sologaistoa and another 11
members of OASIS (the Organization to Support Integrated Sexuality) in
Guatemala. The information available states that on the night of
December 16, 2005, in Guatemala, two trans-sexual persons called Paulina
(Juan Pablo Méndez Cartagena), a communications assistant at OASIS, and
Sulma (Kevin Josué Alegría Robles), a client of OASIS, were shot and
injured in an incident allegedly involving four uniformed policemen. It
is stated that Paulina’s injury proved fatal and that Sulma, who
survived the incident, is a key witness in the investigation of the
affair. Other sources confirm that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
cross-gender community in Guatemala face attacks and threats that often
involve the police, which creates the fear of an existing clandestine
policy of “social cleansing”. In view of these antecedents, the
Commission requested that the Government of Guatemala adopt the measures
necessary to protect the life and physical integrity of the
beneficiaries and report on action taken to investigate judicially the
events that gave rise to the precautionary measures. The Commission is
monitoring the beneficiaries’ situation.

René Galvez et al.

30.On
July 3, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of René
Gálvez and other members of the board of directors of ASIDECQ (the
Integrated Association for the Development of Quetzal City and
Neighboring Colonies) in Guatemala. The information available states
that the members of the board of directors of ASIDECQ were subjected to
serious acts of violence, intimidation, and threats, as a consequence of
their work. Specifically, it is stated that Oscar Humberto Duarte, one
of the members of the board of directors, was abducted and disappeared
on May 24, 2006, with no further trace of him being found. Furthermore,
other members of the organization have been harassed and followed, and
members of their families threatened by telephone. In view of this, the
Commission requested that the Government of Guatemala adopt the measures
necessary to protect the life and physical integrity of the
beneficiaries and report on action taken to investigate judicially the
events that gave rise to the precautionary measures. The Commission is
monitoring the beneficiaries’ situation.

The Maya-Sitio Community of El Rosario-Naranjo

31.On
July 14, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of the
Maya-Sitio Community of El Rosario-Naranjo, identified as both area and
archaeological monument, and sacred place for those in Guatemala who
practice Mayan spirituality. The information available states that
Government Decision No. 1,210 protects the areas identified as
archaeological sites. It is stated that the area of El Rosario-Naranjo
belonged to third parties who started to build a housing project on the
protected land and commissioned a study that reduces the sacred area
from six to three mounds (mounds I, II, and III). In 2005, the general
directorate of the Office of National and Cultural Patrimony, at the
request of the firm LEXUS, authorized building work in the areas
adjacent to Mounds I, II, and III. However, the Supreme Court of Justice
declared that building in El Rosario-Naranjo obstructs the holding of
Mayan religious and social celebrations, in violation of the Guatemalan
constitution, and ordered the suspension of the building work on the
site to be suspended, in spite of which they continued building and
argued that they had not been notified of the decision. In response to a
request from the IACHR for information prior to the granting of
precautionary measures, the State indicated that until final judgment
has been reached in the summary proceedings, there was nothing to
prevent the granting of precautionary measures to protect the
Rosario-Naranjo Archaeological Center. In view of this, the Commission
requested that the Government of Guatemala adopt the measures necessary
to protect the Rosario-Naranjo Archaeological Center. The Commission is
monitoring the beneficiaries’ situation.

Oscar Rodolfo Castañeda Rosales et al.

32.On
August 30, 2006, the IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of
the journalists and workers of “Radio 10”, Oscar Rodolfo Castañeda
Rosales, Vinicio Aguilar Mancilla, Liza María Castañeda Acuña, Juan
Rodolfo Sánchez Sub, Marvin Alexis Ponce Salazar, Abel Oswaldo Orellana,
Víctor Eduardo Escobar Orellana, Juan Francisco Sacor Gómez, Estela
Damaris Noj Tumaz, Edgar Antonio Hernández Zamora, Xeyli Magali Alfaro
Hernández, Iris Ibeth Pérez Herrera Wily Maldonado Rabanales, Anamaría
Rosales, Doblas Castañeda Rosales, Esther Castañeda Rosales, Luís
Quiñones Esquivel, Liza María Castañeda Acuña, and Nelly Stephanie
Castañeda Cestony. The information available states that the workers are
victims of reprisals and intimidation as a consequene of claims of
corruption made by the radio. Specifically, on August 23, 2006, driver
Vinicio Aguilar was wounded in a firearm attack and the journalist
Rodolfo Castañeda received a death threat during his radio program. In
addition, interference on the radio frequencies increased, and
broadcasting equipment stolen. In view of this, the Commission requested
that the Government of Guatemala adopt the measures necessary to protect
the life and physical integrity of the beneficiaries and report on
action taken to investigate judicially the events that gave rise to the
precautionary measures. The Commission is monitoring the beneficiaries’
situation.